Our old Humax PVR broke down the a few months back, and I need to get round to buying a new one.
The only key thing I want to get is Motors TV, which isn't on our current Freeview telly or our old Humax PVR. It is on the Freeview listings, but it needs a Freeview+ special box. It's some sort of odd streaming / broadcast combo I think.
The other thing I want is menus that are vaguely sensible and respond quickly - the Humax was fine, but the tuner built into our TV is shocking, with mega lag between you pressing a button and something happening.
I'm not massively fussed about having catch up - I've got an Xbox that does every catchup except ITV and I can't remember the last time I deliberately watched ITV.
I do want something that's sensibly priced and has a decent amount of storage. When you get into the realms of £2-300 for a set top box, the basic Sky packages start to look sensible. I would like to get more HD channels - is there any difference between Freeview and Freesat in that regard (ie, does one have more bandwidth)?
So, do I want Freeview, Freeview+, Freeview Play, or Freesat (they're not helping themselves are they?)?
We've had a few boxes, some better than others. Our current box is great is a Youview PVR. It works, simple it has series record and we have an app on your iphone to allow it to be set remotely. Downside is not USB to extract the recordings for storage elsewhere.
Humax have just released a new PVR with freeview Play on it(basically like a improved version of freeview to combat Youview)
It has 3 x tuners and can record upto 4 channels at the same time,built in WiFi and Ethernet connection.
Also comes in a very modern Cappuccino colour as well as regular black.
Might get one if my current Youview box ever dies.
[url= http://www.humaxdirect.co.uk/fvp-4000t-500gb-cappuccino.html ]LINKY[/url]
Amy of the daytime crowd got any ideas?
er my only advice is to avoid sagem boxes like the plague, the contoller software is total pants, I returned one to JL and the replacement is frankly no better
I think Motors TV is just in a newer broadcast format, it should work OK on any Freeview HD capable box or TV though.
Been very happy with our BT Youview box (Humax - [url= http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/review/set-top-boxes-on-demand-tv/bt-youview-box-review-2014-3507739/ ]like this one[/url]) - small, quiet, pretty snappy around the menus. We're not BT customers and I don't subscribe to anything and it works fine - wouldn't know until you you try to hit one of the BT Sports channels. Works nicely for internet-based catchup stuff (has iplayer, 4od, itv player, etc) and Netflix. Bought via ebay for about £75, there's loads on there as BT send so many out to customers that they don't necessarily need.
OP .... thanks for posting the question... in exactly the same boat (or was)
Simon G ... thanks for posting an excellent answer ... got one for 65 quid.... posted
Love STW
Update ....
The BT box came yday... you tell it had been used small, from some light scratching to the remote and lead boxes, inside and orginal main box, not closed with tape.... big deal !?!
The box his about a third the size of the Humax DTR-T1010 it's replacing and after 24 hours the Mrs has hasn't moaned yet about it
So job's a good un.
I like the look of that BT box, could make it wireless easily by fitting one of these into the ethernet port
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I went for a BT youview box from eBay brand new for £85. Can't fault it.
As a follow up, I bought one of the Humax manufactured BT YouView boxes mentioned above off Ebay + the Wifi bridge I posted a pic of above.
Marvellous! Works really well, can schedule recordings remotely using the phone app + the youview catchup stuff works just fine.
Bought the box + Wifi bridge as part of the 20% off Ebay offer last week too, so only ended up costing £60 all in.